Why This Mom is Excited for Super Bowl 2014!

I like sports. I really do. I am gearing up for the winter Olympics. But football has never been something I ever enjoyed watching and with all of the potential dangers of the game, I have ruled out my sons ever playing on a tackle football team. That said, I will join the ranks of the more than 100 million people who watch the big game this February 2nd.

The reason for my conversion is simple. Asher and Jackson are now 5 and 6, respectively. They watch football every Sunday with my husband, Andrew. I see what is going on. They are bonding in a new and fun way. Knowing in the back of my mind, being a mother to sons, if I don’t get in on the action I might be missing an opportunity to be a part of this new adventure.

It’s not that I’m trying to encroach on what they’ve got going. The three of them play golf without me, they talk endlessly about basketball and baseball, never asking for my comments or insight. I have no insight into any of it. But, I figured this championship game, the highest level of American football in the United States, is where I’d like to start!

As I have been eavesdropping on all the football talk, I have come to realize that there is a lot more going on than conversations about the players and the plays. In fact, Andrew is teaching them about statistics (he’s the numbers guy in our family). They talk about the cities the teams are from, the geography talk is great. They talk about the intensity of the fans. It’s kind of adorable.

So on Super Bowl Sunday, I will be on the couch, alongside my three guys. We’ll order in, we’ll talk game strategy (I’m still learning) and interestingly, this year, we’ll listen to and watch opera singer Renee Fleming perform the national anthem. Fleming is a soprano and a four-time Grammy winner. Imagine that, a little culture mixed in with the game of the year!